There is a growing and serious misapprehension as to the meaning of Section 12, Article I. of the Church Rules, page 34 of the Manual. It is as follows:—
"None but the First Reader, or Directors, shall give advice on Church matters outside of the meetings. Any member of this Church who disobeys this Rule shall be dropped from Church membership."
It is evident this rule is to prohibit rather than authorize promiscuous advice. I suppose it was intended to correct a bad practice which had grown up,— that of giving general advice under the guise of authority, upon which persons acted supposing they were acting with authority.
